RCEA State Transition

General information about your state chapter’s development of a Rehabilitation Counselors and Educators Division (RCEA)

 The transition from NRCA to RCEA has raised some questions.  The purpose of this message is to provide you with information that may assist you with the development of a division of RCEA in your state. 

  1. NRA’s only division for Rehabilitation Counselors and Educators is the RCEA.  When NRCA decided to separate from NRA, it became an independent organization, and is like any other outside organization.
  1. The RCEA appears as a division on the annual NRA dues invoice (RCEA dues are $45), and that is how membership is renewed or added via the NRA dues invoice.  NRCA is currently mailing their invoices at $70.  New members can join NRA and RCEA by going to the NRA website, www.nationalrehab.org by calling the NRA office at 888.258.4295, or by completing an application form and mailing it to the office.
  1. NRA members who are still members of both NRCA and RCEA will have the opportunity to maintain membership in both organizations, select one, or select neither, when their NRA membership renewal occurs.  Only NRA and RCEA dues will be remitted to NRA.
  1. State divisions of NRCA need to decide whether they will remain as NRA affiliates (and therefore become RCEA units) or remain with the separate NRCA organization.  This decision should be made by members of the state division.  If the decision is straightforward, the by-laws will need relatively minor revisions like including the Rehabilitation Counselors and Educators Association name.  If any former NRCA members choose to maintain a state NRCA Division, then the organization and its assets should be divided in proper proportion, and new by-laws compiled for the RCEA unit.  We can provide a copy of the national by-laws that can be used as a template.  Contact Ray Feroz, RCEA President, at rferoz@clarion.edu for a copy.
  1. If the state NRA chapter’s by-laws include a seat on their board held by the state NRCA chapter president or representative, the by-laws must be changed so that the seat is held by the RCEA chapter president or representative. This is necessary since NRCA is no longer NRA’s division for Rehabilitation Counselors.  Collaborative relationships with other organizations may be beneficial, but persons who are not members of NRA/RCEA may not hold Board seats or vote on Association issues.
  1. States that have no RCEA chapter, and want to develop one, can contact Ray Feroz at rferoz@clarion.edu (814 393 2052) or Dru Fentem at Dru.Fentem@state.ga.us or Lynn Boza BozaL@michigan.gov.